Charles Christopher Trowbridge built this house in 1826 at a cost of $2500[4] on what was then farmland, far from the heart of Detroit.[5] At the time, the River Road (now East Jefferson) ran behind the house; the original access to the house may have been from what is now the rear.[4] Houses of this type often had similar front and rear layouts, with entrances at both ends of a central hallway.[4]

Trowbridge lived in the house for 56 years until his death in 1883.[5] The house, originally built in a Greek Revival style, was updated with Victorian elements such as the bay window in the front.[3][6]

After Trowbridge's death, the house remained in the family, and was converted to a rooming house in 1936. In 1942, the Trowbridge family sold the house to Marie Cavanaugh and it was converted back to a single-family residence.[4] Today, the house is privately owned and houses multiple businesses including Trowbridge Law Firm, Trowbridge Realty, Dickson & Associates and RBD Creative.